Related articles

Why is bread bad for ducks?

The RSPB warned that ducks are likely to fill up on tasty white bread, which has no real nutritional value, instead of eating more healthy types of food.

RSPB spokesman Harry Bellew said: “Feeding the ducks on the park pond – or geese and swans on rivers – is often the first experience children have with wildlife and is a family favourite activity.

“But it is important that we’re feeding ducks the right kind of food to help keep them happy and healthy, whilst ensuring our waterways are kept in a good condition.

Getty

Feeding the ducks is a popular pastime for young families

“Try to vary what you give them and swap it for healthier more natural treats like oats, corn or defrosted frozen peas.

“It’s a bit like if we eat too much bread or food like it – we feel fine to start with but then we can feel bloated and sluggish. And that can be detrimental for birds as they will fill up on it and not on other, more nutritional foods.”

Six things you should never feed ducks

Bread

Chips

Crackers

Cereal

Sweets

Mouldy food

Getty

People have fed ducks bread for generations but it is now seen as dangerous

What not to feed ducks

Bread, chips, crackers, cereal and sweets have little nutritional value, while mouldy food can be very harmful to ducks' health.

Mr Bellew, from the RSPB, said: “There is a risk that ducks and other waterfowl can get an illness known as angel wing, which is caused by not getting the right nutrients in their diet.

“The illness causes as deformity in birds’ wings that can hamper the way they fly or even stop them altogether, which could obviously be fatal.

“Uneaten, rotting food left by ducks can trigger noxious odours and fuel algae that can eventually eradicate fish from the area, as well as attracting rats, mice and insects.

“Mouldy bread can also cause aspergillosis a fatal lung infection that can wipe out waterfowl in flocks.”

Getty

Feeding the ducks: Girls in Cuba feed ducks in 1955

Six things you should feed ducks

It may comes as a surprise that ducks like tinned, frozen and fresh corn as well as flapjacks, rolled oats and even instant porridge.

Corn, lettuce, peas, oats, rice and seeds are six things that people should feed to ducks, according to the RSPB.